Sunday, June 15, 2014

EDIBLE WEEDS : PART 8

KREMAThis is the previous series of the Edible Weeds Series.Krema or Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeriodes) is a common weed on the rice field or home garden.This plant is usually found on the damp and muddy area.But it can grow well on the dry land.As an aquatic plant, the leaves and the stem is much bigger when it grow on the muddy than on the drier area.The flower is whitish, papery-ball shaped a ball shaped and grow on a stalk that bear at the leaf axil.The stem is long, hollow,and branched.

The whole of the plant (especially the shoot and the young leaves) is usually steamed or boiled, and eaten with sambal (ground chili sauce).Sometime it's cooked as a soup. Krema is also well known as medicinal plant to treat urination disorder and a home remedy for cough.

This plant is very invasive, especially on the wet land.When this weed invades waterways it can reduce water flow and quality by preventing light penetration also oxygenation of the water.

Enjoy your week... and check your weeds...Perhaps they are so useful...

Every time we learn more about a plant, we will know more about its benefit. Some 'waste' may have so many benefit, so useful. I'm sure nothing in this world are useless. May be not all are explored yet.

Every plant is weed to someone and edible fruit to others. Every year I see dozens of people that harvest Black bryony in forest around my house, they all swear that it's delicious and I hate it. It kills my plants with it's aggressive vines.

I can’t say I have heard of this one before, but I know of lots of plants that are edible that no one eats anymore because we simply don’t know or think about that we can eat them. All fuchsia plants are edible and I often leave some of the flowers to produce berries as they taste lovely and sweet. I don’t think many people do that :-)